Meet 80-year-old woman who has been forced to live in GARBAGE pit for 10 years (photo)

- The elderly woman, identified as Joyce Jakavula, has endured unbearable stench of rotting goats, sheep and other unmentionable stuff dumped at her backyard

- Her numerous attempts to get the municipal move the garbage elsewhere has been futile, forcing her to learn how to cope with the smell

- The illegal garbage pit, which is reportedly frequented by pigs, dogs and street urchins, is now being used by everyone in the neighbourhood and beyond. Here is what Jakavula was told when she reported the filthy matter

A 80-year-old woman has been living in the middle of garbage pit for close to 10 years, not because that's where she chose to spend her life after retirement, but because she has been forced to.

Mrs Joyce Jakavula says she has had to endure terrible stench from an otherwise illegal dumping site pitched right next to her house.

At some point, after she complained bitterly, the filthy rubbish was removed. But shortly after, another heap of garbage started building up at the same spot.

"The locals started dumping all their trash in the open field next to my house. I did my best in pleading with them to stop, but no one ever listened to me. I even tried to get Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality to come to my rescue, but without success," says distraught Jakavula, who stays alone.

Things have since gotten worse. A few years after her visit to the Municipality, they brought a huge waste container at the site,which made it much more attractive to people looking for a garbage site.

"My situation has gotten really bad. Residents from other streets are now coming all the way to dump their trash near my house," says Jakavula, adding that decaying skins of goats and sheep that had been buthcered are common, especially during the festive seasons.

The smell is so strong she has to use powerful perfumes to try containing it.

"Sometimes the rubbish blows right into my house and some get plastered along the face. Every morning, I have to remove dirty plastic,paper and cardboard," says Jakavula.

According to the retired old woman, she had meticulously explained her predicaments to the area committee, which only promised to act on her behalf. Several years later, the committee has done nothing. All she can do now is sit back and wait for help to come.